Variety (March 1909)

VARIETY VAUDEVILLE! THE IDEA! William L. Lykens is cast down and sad. Mr. Lykens is thinking of what might have been if it wasn't. In the ordi- nary course of his business the vaudeville agent indited a letter to Margaret Anglin, marking quite plainly on the en- velope "Personal." There is nothing ''personal" in the show business, so when Louis Nethersole, Miss Anglin's manager, in the ordinary course of his business saw the envelope with "Wm. L. Lykens" on the cover, he opened the missive, replying thereto direct with- out taking the trouble to convey Lykens' proposition to his star. This Mr. Nethersole has informed Mr. Lykens in the answer he made, adding he would never, never, never consider vaude- ville. Lykens has sent another letter telling Mr. Nethersole a few things. Now Bill snys he supposes the only mistake of the first epistle was in not having mentioned what figure Miss Anglin might receive in the "twice daily," where all "legits" seem to arrive, before or after. That figure, says Bill, could even make a Nethersole pause and ponder. It has been known where a week's sal- ary in vaudeville for a star has been nearly equal to the gross on the legiti- mate's entire previous season. MORE FALLING IN. Philadelphia, March 25. The Park and Grand Opera House will be added to the moving picture and vaudeville list next week, taking two more of the popular-price houses out of the combination field. The Grand Opera House is the largest theatre in the city, excepting the old Academy of Music, and is just around the corner from the new Liberty. It is also reported that the Garrick, one of the high-price houses on Chestnut Street, just above Keith's, will take a shy at the picture-vaudeville game in a short time, the date not yet having been settled. "SCHOOL DAYS" SOLD. Last Saturday night, at Toledo, Stair & Havlin entered into possession of "School Days," the "kid" play produced by Gus Edwards. The consideration is reported in five figures. The piece has been playing about in the midille-west to good business. The To- ledo week was a return engagement. The gross receipts were $.1,400. Mr. Edwards will continue his vaude- ville act, "School Days," and will pro- duce other abbreviated plays, but says he has passed Up the legitimate thing tor over. TOE DANCING IN STOCKINGS. It is claimed that The Great Richards, the female impersonator, has been offered $750 weekly for next season if he will do toe dancing in his stockings on the vaude- ville stage. Richards claims he can do this most dif- ficult of all dancing feats by playing one week and resting four. Mr. Richards is also reported as having replied to the offer that provided the salary was sufficiently high he could stand almost any strain. "PULLING OUT" ACTS. Three cases were recorded this week in which the United Booking Offices "pulled out" acts booked to play in independent theatres. Two had been placed for the shows in the Mishler houses (three a-day) in Johnstown and Altoona, Pa. In both of these towns there are vaudeville houses booked by the United. The acts were Wilbur Held, booked for the Cambria, Johnstown, and Pelletier and Messenger, announced for the same place. They reported at the last minute they would be unable to play, by reason of ill- ness. Hayes and Suits, and Charles Mc- Duff were substituted. Hereafter the bills in the two "split week" independent theatres will be kept secret. Instead of real names acts will be billed in advance under fictitious titles. The third effort to entice acts awav failed of accomplishment. John Rucker, engaged for the Savoy, Atlantic City, is declared by Lesley & Pincus, who book the house, to have been offered time on the United circuits if he would refuse to play the opposition. Young's Pier, At- lantic City, plays the United bookings. In some way the understanding was con- veyed to the United that Rucker would play for the Harris establishment and the act was billed for that house as well as for the Savoy. The local papers carried an advertisement for the Savov in which * - these circumstances were set forth in dis- play type. OAKLAND NOVELTY AT AUCTION. San Francisco, March 25. The lease of the Novelty, Oakland, Cal., for many years under the control of Tony Lubelski, will be put up at auction shortly. With $20,000 owing to one Oak- land bank and $3,000 arrears in rental, Lubelski was obliged to say enough. Ac- cording to the prevailing rumor a syn- dicate of Oakland business men will buy in and transform the place into a melo- dramatic house with Guy Smith, a one- time vaudeville manager, at the helm. CLOSES FOR BUTTE. Butte, March 25. L. M. Quinn, manager of the Empire, has returned from Seattle, where he com- pleted arrangements with Alex. Pant ages for the bookings for the new vaudeville theatre in Butte. The house will cost $60,000 and open next fall. The new Empire will open at Anaconda about April 1. BILLING GOES THREE WAYS. De.s Moines, la., March 25. The Majestic employs a great deal of billboard space each week. In place of the usual line of paper this week, the boards blaze forth with "I Wish I Had a Girl," featured by the Murray Sisters. More prominent, however, than their name is that of the music publisher. JOHNSON RECEIVES $1,200. Chicago, March 23. Kid Cutler, the wrestler, will be Jack Johnson's sparring partner when the col- ored pugilist appears at Hammerstein's next Monday. The black champion is the feature this week at the Trocadero, his first theat- rfcal engagement, and receives $1,200 for showing how he defeated Tommy Hums in the recent championship bout. The program next week at Hammer- stein's consists of Lonev Haskell, Mabel Bardine and Co., Hastings and Wilson, Princess Rajah, George Armstrong, Expo- sition Four, I^a Dent and Marie Dainton, besides Johnson. BLONDELL A "SINGLE." Ed. Blondell has in preparation a single act. It will be first shown after the comedian has played the Morris time with his present sketch, "The I^ost Roy." GEO. COHAN'S VACATION. A long rest will be taken by George M. Cohan. He will attempt no further writ- ing for the remainder of this season, and probably will not touch his pen again until next fall. Hither this week or shortly, the young wonder intends visiting Bermuda for a spell. Matthew and Harris in "Adam, the Sec- ond," play the Fulton, Brooklyn, Monday. A reproduction of the testlmonal presented to ALICE I.I.OYD bj" tbe BRONX LODGE, B. P. O. B. (Elks). KELLERMAN CASE PENDING. To-day (Saturday) expires the time limit set by Judge Ward in the United States Circuit Court on Tuesday for An- nette Kellerman to submit briefs in the injunction proceedings brought against her by B. F. Keith. Mr. Keith will have a few days to re- ply, and a decision in the case is expected during next week. Argument was had be- fore the Justice on Tuesday, William D. Guthrie appearing for Miss Kellerman and Henry W. Taft, a brother of the President, acting as counsel for Keith. After the hearing the Court directed that Miss Kellerman be further enjoined from going through a physical exercise she had given at the American Theatre on Monday, but declined to direct that she should be enjoined from wearing her diving suit upon the stage. The injunction served upon Miss Keller- man March 20 forbade her giving a stage exhibition of diving, "Diablo" or dancing. Billed to open at the American by Will- iam MorrLs on Monday, March 22, Miss Kellerman duly appeared at the matinee l»efore a handsome special setting which had been built for her at a cost of $1,500. She made a short speech explain- ing why she could not go through her cus- tomary act, and concluded with the phy- sical exercise while costumed as she is when diving. This was followed by mov- ing pictures showing Miss Kellerman in her water feats. In the evening the mov- ing pictures were shown first. For the remainder of this week Miss Kellerman has been delivering the speech only with her black silk union suit the most prominent part of the act. It was said about on Wednesdav that even if the injunction against Miss Kel- lerman giving the former act under other management than Keith's should be made permanent, the Morris Circuit would con- tinue to feature her, arranging another of- fering to allow the public a glimpse of the form which has brought about all the trouble. She is again headlined at the American for next week. The speech made by Miss Kellerman on Mondav afternoon (written bv William Morris, according to report) said in part: "Ladies and gentlemen : I am unable to give mv full act to-dav, and I want to tell vou whv. When mv dad died in Paris. I came over here and did some swimming in Boston. Mr. Keith, of the vaudeville trust, saw me and said he would like to enj»a< r e me. I didn't know anything about salaries «ir anything else. The trust ollered nve $250 a week, but 1 said that was not enough, and then they said $300 and 1 signed a contract, but I didn't know the contract was for two or three vears. "Well, then I learned the trust was farming mc out for three times my salary to managers. Then William Morris said he would give me $1,500 and I signed with him, for the trust had not kept its con- tract. I said I must have an 18-foot tank, but I didn't always get it. Three times 1 hurt myself in tanks not the size I wanted. "If the courts sav I can't plav for Mr. Morris, I won't play for the trust, any way." In court it was stated that Miss Keller- man and her manager, James Sullivan, are engaged to be married.